{"id":397,"date":"2015-07-15T20:24:58","date_gmt":"2015-07-15T20:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/britlit1xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=397"},"modified":"2015-07-15T20:55:08","modified_gmt":"2015-07-15T20:55:08","slug":"beowulf-sections-6-10","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-britlit1\/chapter\/beowulf-sections-6-10\/","title":{"raw":"Beowulf Sections 6-10","rendered":"Beowulf Sections 6-10"},"content":{"raw":"VI\r\n\r\nHROTHGAR answered, helmet of Scyldings: --\r\n\u201cI knew him of yore in his youthful days;\r\nhis aged father was Ecgtheow named,\r\nto whom, at home, gave Hrethel the Geat\r\nhis only daughter. Their offspring bold\r\nfares hither to seek the steadfast friend.\r\nAnd seamen, too, have said me this, --\r\nwho carried my gifts to the Geatish court,\r\nthither for thanks, -- he has thirty men\u2019s\r\nheft of grasp in the gripe of his hand,\r\nthe bold-in-battle. Blessed God\r\nout of his mercy this man hath sent\r\nto Danes of the West, as I ween indeed,\r\nagainst horror of Grendel. I hope to give\r\nthe good youth gold for his gallant thought.\r\nBe thou in haste, and bid them hither,\r\nclan of kinsmen, to come before me;\r\nand add this word, -- they are welcome guests\r\nto folk of the Danes.\u201d\r\n[To the door of the hall\r\nWulfgar went] and the word declared: --\r\n\u201cTo you this message my master sends,\r\nEast-Danes\u2019 king, that your kin he knows,\r\nhardy heroes, and hails you all\r\nwelcome hither o\u2019er waves of the sea!\r\nYe may wend your way in war-attire,\r\nand under helmets Hrothgar greet;\r\nbut let here the battle-shields bide your parley,\r\nand wooden war-shafts wait its end.\u201d\r\nUprose the mighty one, ringed with his men,\r\nbrave band of thanes: some bode without,\r\nbattle-gear guarding, as bade the chief.\r\nThen hied that troop where the herald led them,\r\nunder Heorot\u2019s roof: [the hero strode,]\r\nhardy \u2019neath helm, till the hearth he neared.\r\nBeowulf spake, -- his breastplate gleamed,\r\nwar-net woven by wit of the smith: --\r\n\u201cThou Hrothgar, hail! Hygelac\u2019s I,\r\nkinsman and follower. Fame a plenty\r\nhave I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds\r\nI heard in my home-land heralded clear.\r\nSeafarers say how stands this hall,\r\nof buildings best, for your band of thanes\r\nempty and idle, when evening sun\r\nin the harbor of heaven is hidden away.\r\nSo my vassals advised me well, --\r\nbrave and wise, the best of men, --\r\nO sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here,\r\nfor my nerve and my might they knew full well.\r\nThemselves had seen me from slaughter come\r\nblood-flecked from foes, where five I bound,\r\nand that wild brood worsted. I\u2019 the waves I slew\r\nnicors[footnote]The nicor, says Bugge, is a hippopotamus; a walrus, says Ten Brink. But that water-goblin who covers the space from Old Nick of jest to the Neckan and Nix of poetry and tale, is all one needs, and Nicor is a good name for him.[\/footnote]\u00a0by night, in need and peril\r\navenging the Weders,[footnote]His own people, the Geats.[\/footnote]\u00a0whose woe they sought, --\r\ncrushing the grim ones. Grendel now,\r\nmonster cruel, be mine to quell\r\nin single battle! So, from thee,\r\nthou sovran of the Shining-Danes,\r\nScyldings\u2019-bulwark, a boon I seek, --\r\nand, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not,\r\nO Warriors\u2019-shield, now I\u2019ve wandered far, --\r\nthat I alone with my liegemen here,\r\nthis hardy band, may Heorot purge!\r\nMore I hear, that the monster dire,\r\nin his wanton mood, of weapons recks not;\r\nhence shall I scorn -- so Hygelac stay,\r\nking of my kindred, kind to me! --\r\nbrand or buckler to bear in the fight,\r\ngold-colored targe: but with gripe alone\r\nmust I front the fiend and fight for life,\r\nfoe against foe. Then faith be his\r\nin the doom of the Lord whom death shall take.\r\nFain, I ween, if the fight he win,\r\nin this hall of gold my Geatish band\r\nwill he fearless eat, -- as oft before, --\r\nmy noblest thanes. Nor need\u2019st thou then\r\nto hide my head;[footnote]That is, cover it as with a face-cloth. \u201cThere will be no need of funeral rites.\u201d[\/footnote]\u00a0for his shall I be,\r\ndyed in gore, if death must take me;\r\nand my blood-covered body he\u2019ll bear as prey,\r\nruthless devour it, the roamer-lonely,\r\nwith my life-blood redden his lair in the fen:\r\nno further for me need\u2019st food prepare!\r\nTo Hygelac send, if Hild[footnote] Personification of Battle.[\/footnote]\u00a0should take me,\r\nbest of war-weeds, warding my breast,\r\narmor excellent, heirloom of Hrethel\r\nand work of Wayland.[footnote]The Germanic Vulcan.[\/footnote]\u00a0Fares Wyrd[footnote]This mighty power, whom the Christian poet can still revere, has here the general force of \u201cDestiny.\u201d[\/footnote]\u00a0as she must.\u201d\r\n
<\/div>\r\nVII\r\n\r\nHROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings\u2019-helmet: --\r\n\u201cFor fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,\r\nto succor and save, thou hast sought us here.\r\nThy father\u2019s combat[footnote]There is no irrelevance here. Hrothgar sees in Beowulf\u2019s mission a heritage of duty, a return of the good offices which the Danish king rendered to Beowulf\u2019s father in time of dire need.[\/footnote]\u00a0a feud enkindled\r\nwhen Heatholaf with hand he slew\r\namong the Wylfings; his Weder kin\r\nfor horror of fighting feared to hold him.\r\nFleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk,\r\nover surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,\r\nwhen first I was ruling the folk of Danes,\r\nwielded, youthful, this widespread realm,\r\nthis hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,\r\nmy elder brother, had breathed his last,\r\nHealfdene\u2019s bairn: he was better than I!\r\nStraightway the feud with fee[footnote]Money, for wergild, or man-price.[\/footnote]\u00a0I settled,\r\nto the Wylfings sent, o\u2019er watery ridges,\r\ntreasures olden: oaths he[footnote] Ecgtheow, Beowulf\u2019s sire.[\/footnote]\u00a0swore me.\r\nSore is my soul to say to any\r\nof the race of man what ruth for me\r\nin Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought,\r\nwhat sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me,\r\nmy warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them\r\ninto Grendel\u2019s grasp. But God is able\r\nthis deadly foe from his deeds to turn!\r\nBoasted full oft, as my beer they drank,\r\nearls o\u2019er the ale-cup, armed men,\r\nthat they would bide in the beer-hall here,\r\nGrendel\u2019s attack with terror of blades.\r\nThen was this mead-house at morning tide\r\ndyed with gore, when the daylight broke,\r\nall the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled,\r\ngory the hall: I had heroes the less,\r\ndoughty dear-ones that death had reft.\r\n-- But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,\r\nhardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee.\u201d\r\n\r\nGathered together, the Geatish men\r\nin the banquet-hall on bench assigned,\r\nsturdy-spirited, sat them down,\r\nhardy-hearted. A henchman attended,\r\ncarried the carven cup in hand,\r\nserved the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang\r\nblithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,\r\nno dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.\r\n
<\/div>\r\nVIII\r\n\r\nUNFERTH spake, the son of Ecglaf,\r\nwho sat at the feet of the Scyldings\u2019 lord,\r\nunbound the battle-runes.[footnote]\u201cBegan the fight.\u201d[\/footnote]\u00a0-- Beowulf\u2019s quest,\r\nsturdy seafarer\u2019s, sorely galled him;\r\never he envied that other men\r\nshould more achieve in middle-earth\r\nof fame under heaven than he himself. --\r\n\u201cArt thou that Beowulf, Breca\u2019s rival,\r\nwho emulous swam on the open sea,\r\nwhen for pride the pair of you proved the floods,\r\nand wantonly dared in waters deep\r\nto risk your lives? No living man,\r\nor lief or loath, from your labor dire\r\ncould you dissuade, from swimming the main.\r\nOcean-tides with your arms ye covered,\r\nwith strenuous hands the sea-streets measured,\r\nswam o\u2019er the waters. Winter\u2019s storm\r\nrolled the rough waves. In realm of sea\r\na sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee,\r\nhad more of main! Him at morning-tide\r\nbillows bore to the Battling Reamas,\r\nwhence he hied to his home so dear\r\nbeloved of his liegemen, to land of Brondings,\r\nfastness fair, where his folk he ruled,\r\ntown and treasure. In triumph o\u2019er thee\r\nBeanstan\u2019s bairn[footnote]Breca.[\/footnote]\u00a0his boast achieved.\r\nSo ween I for thee a worse adventure\r\n-- though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been,\r\nin struggle grim, -- if Grendel\u2019s approach\r\nthou darst await through the watch of night!\u201d\r\n\r\nBeowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --\r\n\u201cWhat a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,\r\ndrunken with beer, of Breca now,\r\ntold of his triumph! Truth I claim it,\r\nthat I had more of might in the sea\r\nthan any man else, more ocean-endurance.\r\nWe twain had talked, in time of youth,\r\nand made our boast, -- we were merely boys,\r\nstriplings still, -- to stake our lives\r\nfar at sea: and so we performed it.\r\nNaked swords, as we swam along,\r\nwe held in hand, with hope to guard us\r\nagainst the whales. Not a whit from me\r\ncould he float afar o\u2019er the flood of waves,\r\nhaste o\u2019er the billows; nor him I abandoned.\r\nTogether we twain on the tides abode\r\nfive nights full till the flood divided us,\r\nchurning waves and chillest weather,\r\ndarkling night, and the northern wind\r\nruthless rushed on us: rough was the surge.\r\nNow the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace;\r\nyet me \u2019gainst the monsters my mailed coat,\r\nhard and hand-linked, help afforded, --\r\nbattle-sark braided my breast to ward,\r\ngarnished with gold. There grasped me firm\r\nand haled me to bottom the hated foe,\r\nwith grimmest gripe. \u2019Twas granted me, though,\r\nto pierce the monster with point of sword,\r\nwith blade of battle: huge beast of the sea\r\nwas whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine.\r\n
<\/div>\r\nIX\r\n\r\nME thus often the evil monsters\r\nthronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,\r\nthe darling, I dealt them due return!\r\nNowise had they bliss from their booty then\r\nto devour their victim, vengeful creatures,\r\nseated to banquet at bottom of sea;\r\nbut at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,\r\non the edge of ocean up they lay,\r\nput to sleep by the sword. And since, by them\r\non the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folk\r\nare never molested. -- Light from east,\r\ncame bright God\u2019s beacon; the billows sank,\r\nso that I saw the sea-cliffs high,\r\nwindy walls. For Wyrd oft saveth\r\nearl undoomed if he doughty be!\r\nAnd so it came that I killed with my sword\r\nnine of the nicors. Of night-fought battles\r\nne\u2019er heard I a harder \u2019neath heaven\u2019s dome,\r\nnor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!\r\nYet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,\r\nthough spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,\r\nflood of the tide, on Finnish land,\r\nthe welling waters. No wise of thee\r\nhave I heard men tell such terror of falchions,\r\nbitter battle. Breca ne\u2019er yet,\r\nnot one of you pair, in the play of war\r\nsuch daring deed has done at all\r\nwith bloody brand, -- I boast not of it! --\r\nthough thou wast the bane[footnote]Murder.[\/footnote]\u00a0of thy brethren dear,\r\nthy closest kin, whence curse of hell\r\nawaits thee, well as thy wit may serve!\r\nFor I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf,\r\nnever had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,\r\nmonster dire, on thy master dear,\r\nin Heorot such havoc, if heart of thine\r\nwere as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!\r\nBut he has found no feud will happen;\r\nfrom sword-clash dread of your Danish clan\r\nhe vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings.\r\nHe forces pledges, favors none\r\nof the land of Danes, but lustily murders,\r\nfights and feasts, nor feud he dreads\r\nfrom Spear-Dane men. But speedily now\r\nshall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,\r\nshall bid him battle. Blithe to mead\r\ngo he that listeth, when light of dawn\r\nthis morrow morning o\u2019er men of earth,\r\nether-robed sun from the south shall beam!\u201d\r\nJoyous then was the Jewel-giver,\r\nhoar-haired, war-brave; help awaited\r\nthe Bright-Danes\u2019 prince, from Beowulf hearing,\r\nfolk\u2019s good shepherd, such firm resolve.\r\nThen was laughter of liegemen loud resounding\r\nwith winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,\r\nqueen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy,\r\ngold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;\r\nand the high-born lady handed the cup\r\nfirst to the East-Danes\u2019 heir and warden,\r\nbade him be blithe at the beer-carouse,\r\nthe land\u2019s beloved one. Lustily took he\r\nbanquet and beaker, battle-famed king.\r\n\r\nThrough the hall then went the Helmings\u2019 Lady,\r\nto younger and older everywhere\r\ncarried the cup, till come the moment\r\nwhen the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,\r\nto Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.\r\nShe greeted the Geats\u2019 lord, God she thanked,\r\nin wisdom\u2019s words, that her will was granted,\r\nthat at last on a hero her hope could lean\r\nfor comfort in terrors. The cup he took,\r\nhardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow\u2019s hand,\r\nand answer uttered the eager-for-combat.\r\nBeowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --\r\n\u201cThis was my thought, when my thanes and I\r\nbent to the ocean and entered our boat,\r\nthat I would work the will of your people\r\nfully, or fighting fall in death,\r\nin fiend\u2019s gripe fast. I am firm to do\r\nan earl\u2019s brave deed, or end the days\r\nof this life of mine in the mead-hall here.\u201d\r\nWell these words to the woman seemed,\r\nBeowulf\u2019s battle-boast. -- Bright with gold\r\nthe stately dame by her spouse sat down.\r\nAgain, as erst, began in hall\r\nwarriors\u2019 wassail and words of power,\r\nthe proud-band\u2019s revel, till presently\r\nthe son of Healfdene hastened to seek\r\nrest for the night; he knew there waited\r\nfight for the fiend in that festal hall,\r\nwhen the sheen of the sun they saw no more,\r\nand dusk of night sank darkling nigh,\r\nand shadowy shapes came striding on,\r\nwan under welkin. The warriors rose.\r\nMan to man, he made harangue,\r\nHrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,\r\nlet him wield the wine hall: a word he added: --\r\n\u201cNever to any man erst I trusted,\r\nsince I could heave up hand and shield,\r\nthis noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.\r\nHave now and hold this house unpeered;\r\nremember thy glory; thy might declare;\r\nwatch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee\r\nif thou bidest the battle with bold-won life.\u201d\r\n
<\/div>\r\nX\r\n\r\nTHEN Hrothgar went with his hero-train,\r\ndefence-of-Scyldings, forth from hall;\r\nfain would the war-lord Wealhtheow seek,\r\ncouch of his queen. The King-of-Glory\r\nagainst this Grendel a guard had set,\r\nso heroes heard, a hall-defender,\r\nwho warded the monarch and watched for the monster.\r\nIn truth, the Geats\u2019 prince gladly trusted\r\nhis mettle, his might, the mercy of God!\r\nCast off then his corselet of iron,\r\nhelmet from head; to his henchman gave, --\r\nchoicest of weapons, -- the well-chased sword,\r\nbidding him guard the gear of battle.\r\nSpake then his Vaunt the valiant man,\r\nBeowulf Geat, ere the bed be sought: --\r\n\u201cOf force in fight no feebler I count me,\r\nin grim war-deeds, than Grendel deems him.\r\nNot with the sword, then, to sleep of death\r\nhis life will I give, though it lie in my power.\r\nNo skill is his to strike against me,\r\nmy shield to hew though he hardy be,\r\nbold in battle; we both, this night,\r\nshall spurn the sword, if he seek me here,\r\nunweaponed, for war. Let wisest God,\r\nsacred Lord, on which side soever\r\ndoom decree as he deemeth right.\u201d\r\nReclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows held\r\nthe head of the earl, while all about him\r\nseamen hardy on hall-beds sank.\r\nNone of them thought that thence their steps\r\nto the folk and fastness that fostered them,\r\nto the land they loved, would lead them back!\r\nFull well they wist that on warriors many\r\nbattle-death seized, in the banquet-hall,\r\nof Danish clan. But comfort and help,\r\nwar-weal weaving, to Weder folk\r\nthe Master gave, that, by might of one,\r\nover their enemy all prevailed,\r\nby single strength. In sooth \u2019tis told\r\nthat highest God o\u2019er human kind\r\nhath wielded ever! -- Thro\u2019 wan night striding,\r\ncame the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept\r\nwhose hest was to guard the gabled hall, --\r\nall save one. \u2019Twas widely known\r\nthat against God\u2019s will the ghostly ravager\r\nhim[footnote]Beowulf, -- the \u201cone.\u201d[\/footnote]\u00a0could not hurl to haunts of darkness;\r\nwakeful, ready, with warrior\u2019s wrath,\r\nbold he bided the battle\u2019s issue.","rendered":"

VI<\/p>\n

HROTHGAR answered, helmet of Scyldings: —
\n\u201cI knew him of yore in his youthful days;
\nhis aged father was Ecgtheow named,
\nto whom, at home, gave Hrethel the Geat
\nhis only daughter. Their offspring bold
\nfares hither to seek the steadfast friend.
\nAnd seamen, too, have said me this, —
\nwho carried my gifts to the Geatish court,
\nthither for thanks, — he has thirty men\u2019s
\nheft of grasp in the gripe of his hand,
\nthe bold-in-battle. Blessed God
\nout of his mercy this man hath sent
\nto Danes of the West, as I ween indeed,
\nagainst horror of Grendel. I hope to give
\nthe good youth gold for his gallant thought.
\nBe thou in haste, and bid them hither,
\nclan of kinsmen, to come before me;
\nand add this word, — they are welcome guests
\nto folk of the Danes.\u201d
\n[To the door of the hall
\nWulfgar went] and the word declared: —
\n\u201cTo you this message my master sends,
\nEast-Danes\u2019 king, that your kin he knows,
\nhardy heroes, and hails you all
\nwelcome hither o\u2019er waves of the sea!
\nYe may wend your way in war-attire,
\nand under helmets Hrothgar greet;
\nbut let here the battle-shields bide your parley,
\nand wooden war-shafts wait its end.\u201d
\nUprose the mighty one, ringed with his men,
\nbrave band of thanes: some bode without,
\nbattle-gear guarding, as bade the chief.
\nThen hied that troop where the herald led them,
\nunder Heorot\u2019s roof: [the hero strode,]
\nhardy \u2019neath helm, till the hearth he neared.
\nBeowulf spake, — his breastplate gleamed,
\nwar-net woven by wit of the smith: —
\n\u201cThou Hrothgar, hail! Hygelac\u2019s I,
\nkinsman and follower. Fame a plenty
\nhave I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds
\nI heard in my home-land heralded clear.
\nSeafarers say how stands this hall,
\nof buildings best, for your band of thanes
\nempty and idle, when evening sun
\nin the harbor of heaven is hidden away.
\nSo my vassals advised me well, —
\nbrave and wise, the best of men, —
\nO sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here,
\nfor my nerve and my might they knew full well.
\nThemselves had seen me from slaughter come
\nblood-flecked from foes, where five I bound,
\nand that wild brood worsted. I\u2019 the waves I slew
\nnicors[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0by night, in need and peril
\navenging the Weders,[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0whose woe they sought, —
\ncrushing the grim ones. Grendel now,
\nmonster cruel, be mine to quell
\nin single battle! So, from thee,
\nthou sovran of the Shining-Danes,
\nScyldings\u2019-bulwark, a boon I seek, —
\nand, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not,
\nO Warriors\u2019-shield, now I\u2019ve wandered far, —
\nthat I alone with my liegemen here,
\nthis hardy band, may Heorot purge!
\nMore I hear, that the monster dire,
\nin his wanton mood, of weapons recks not;
\nhence shall I scorn — so Hygelac stay,
\nking of my kindred, kind to me! —
\nbrand or buckler to bear in the fight,
\ngold-colored targe: but with gripe alone
\nmust I front the fiend and fight for life,
\nfoe against foe. Then faith be his
\nin the doom of the Lord whom death shall take.
\nFain, I ween, if the fight he win,
\nin this hall of gold my Geatish band
\nwill he fearless eat, — as oft before, —
\nmy noblest thanes. Nor need\u2019st thou then
\nto hide my head;[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0for his shall I be,
\ndyed in gore, if death must take me;
\nand my blood-covered body he\u2019ll bear as prey,
\nruthless devour it, the roamer-lonely,
\nwith my life-blood redden his lair in the fen:
\nno further for me need\u2019st food prepare!
\nTo Hygelac send, if Hild[4]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0should take me,
\nbest of war-weeds, warding my breast,
\narmor excellent, heirloom of Hrethel
\nand work of Wayland.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Fares Wyrd[6]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0as she must.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

VII<\/p>\n

HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings\u2019-helmet: —
\n\u201cFor fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,
\nto succor and save, thou hast sought us here.
\nThy father\u2019s combat[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0a feud enkindled
\nwhen Heatholaf with hand he slew
\namong the Wylfings; his Weder kin
\nfor horror of fighting feared to hold him.
\nFleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk,
\nover surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,
\nwhen first I was ruling the folk of Danes,
\nwielded, youthful, this widespread realm,
\nthis hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,
\nmy elder brother, had breathed his last,
\nHealfdene\u2019s bairn: he was better than I!
\nStraightway the feud with fee[8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0I settled,
\nto the Wylfings sent, o\u2019er watery ridges,
\ntreasures olden: oaths he[9]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0swore me.
\nSore is my soul to say to any
\nof the race of man what ruth for me
\nin Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought,
\nwhat sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me,
\nmy warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them
\ninto Grendel\u2019s grasp. But God is able
\nthis deadly foe from his deeds to turn!
\nBoasted full oft, as my beer they drank,
\nearls o\u2019er the ale-cup, armed men,
\nthat they would bide in the beer-hall here,
\nGrendel\u2019s attack with terror of blades.
\nThen was this mead-house at morning tide
\ndyed with gore, when the daylight broke,
\nall the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled,
\ngory the hall: I had heroes the less,
\ndoughty dear-ones that death had reft.
\n— But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,
\nhardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gathered together, the Geatish men
\nin the banquet-hall on bench assigned,
\nsturdy-spirited, sat them down,
\nhardy-hearted. A henchman attended,
\ncarried the carven cup in hand,
\nserved the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang
\nblithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,
\nno dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

VIII<\/p>\n

UNFERTH spake, the son of Ecglaf,
\nwho sat at the feet of the Scyldings\u2019 lord,
\nunbound the battle-runes.[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0— Beowulf\u2019s quest,
\nsturdy seafarer\u2019s, sorely galled him;
\never he envied that other men
\nshould more achieve in middle-earth
\nof fame under heaven than he himself. —
\n\u201cArt thou that Beowulf, Breca\u2019s rival,
\nwho emulous swam on the open sea,
\nwhen for pride the pair of you proved the floods,
\nand wantonly dared in waters deep
\nto risk your lives? No living man,
\nor lief or loath, from your labor dire
\ncould you dissuade, from swimming the main.
\nOcean-tides with your arms ye covered,
\nwith strenuous hands the sea-streets measured,
\nswam o\u2019er the waters. Winter\u2019s storm
\nrolled the rough waves. In realm of sea
\na sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee,
\nhad more of main! Him at morning-tide
\nbillows bore to the Battling Reamas,
\nwhence he hied to his home so dear
\nbeloved of his liegemen, to land of Brondings,
\nfastness fair, where his folk he ruled,
\ntown and treasure. In triumph o\u2019er thee
\nBeanstan\u2019s bairn[11]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0his boast achieved.
\nSo ween I for thee a worse adventure
\n— though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been,
\nin struggle grim, — if Grendel\u2019s approach
\nthou darst await through the watch of night!\u201d<\/p>\n

Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —
\n\u201cWhat a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,
\ndrunken with beer, of Breca now,
\ntold of his triumph! Truth I claim it,
\nthat I had more of might in the sea
\nthan any man else, more ocean-endurance.
\nWe twain had talked, in time of youth,
\nand made our boast, — we were merely boys,
\nstriplings still, — to stake our lives
\nfar at sea: and so we performed it.
\nNaked swords, as we swam along,
\nwe held in hand, with hope to guard us
\nagainst the whales. Not a whit from me
\ncould he float afar o\u2019er the flood of waves,
\nhaste o\u2019er the billows; nor him I abandoned.
\nTogether we twain on the tides abode
\nfive nights full till the flood divided us,
\nchurning waves and chillest weather,
\ndarkling night, and the northern wind
\nruthless rushed on us: rough was the surge.
\nNow the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace;
\nyet me \u2019gainst the monsters my mailed coat,
\nhard and hand-linked, help afforded, —
\nbattle-sark braided my breast to ward,
\ngarnished with gold. There grasped me firm
\nand haled me to bottom the hated foe,
\nwith grimmest gripe. \u2019Twas granted me, though,
\nto pierce the monster with point of sword,
\nwith blade of battle: huge beast of the sea
\nwas whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

IX<\/p>\n

ME thus often the evil monsters
\nthronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,
\nthe darling, I dealt them due return!
\nNowise had they bliss from their booty then
\nto devour their victim, vengeful creatures,
\nseated to banquet at bottom of sea;
\nbut at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,
\non the edge of ocean up they lay,
\nput to sleep by the sword. And since, by them
\non the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folk
\nare never molested. — Light from east,
\ncame bright God\u2019s beacon; the billows sank,
\nso that I saw the sea-cliffs high,
\nwindy walls. For Wyrd oft saveth
\nearl undoomed if he doughty be!
\nAnd so it came that I killed with my sword
\nnine of the nicors. Of night-fought battles
\nne\u2019er heard I a harder \u2019neath heaven\u2019s dome,
\nnor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!
\nYet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,
\nthough spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,
\nflood of the tide, on Finnish land,
\nthe welling waters. No wise of thee
\nhave I heard men tell such terror of falchions,
\nbitter battle. Breca ne\u2019er yet,
\nnot one of you pair, in the play of war
\nsuch daring deed has done at all
\nwith bloody brand, — I boast not of it! —
\nthough thou wast the bane[12]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0of thy brethren dear,
\nthy closest kin, whence curse of hell
\nawaits thee, well as thy wit may serve!
\nFor I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf,
\nnever had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,
\nmonster dire, on thy master dear,
\nin Heorot such havoc, if heart of thine
\nwere as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!
\nBut he has found no feud will happen;
\nfrom sword-clash dread of your Danish clan
\nhe vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings.
\nHe forces pledges, favors none
\nof the land of Danes, but lustily murders,
\nfights and feasts, nor feud he dreads
\nfrom Spear-Dane men. But speedily now
\nshall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,
\nshall bid him battle. Blithe to mead
\ngo he that listeth, when light of dawn
\nthis morrow morning o\u2019er men of earth,
\nether-robed sun from the south shall beam!\u201d
\nJoyous then was the Jewel-giver,
\nhoar-haired, war-brave; help awaited
\nthe Bright-Danes\u2019 prince, from Beowulf hearing,
\nfolk\u2019s good shepherd, such firm resolve.
\nThen was laughter of liegemen loud resounding
\nwith winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,
\nqueen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy,
\ngold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;
\nand the high-born lady handed the cup
\nfirst to the East-Danes\u2019 heir and warden,
\nbade him be blithe at the beer-carouse,
\nthe land\u2019s beloved one. Lustily took he
\nbanquet and beaker, battle-famed king.<\/p>\n

Through the hall then went the Helmings\u2019 Lady,
\nto younger and older everywhere
\ncarried the cup, till come the moment
\nwhen the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,
\nto Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.
\nShe greeted the Geats\u2019 lord, God she thanked,
\nin wisdom\u2019s words, that her will was granted,
\nthat at last on a hero her hope could lean
\nfor comfort in terrors. The cup he took,
\nhardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow\u2019s hand,
\nand answer uttered the eager-for-combat.
\nBeowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —
\n\u201cThis was my thought, when my thanes and I
\nbent to the ocean and entered our boat,
\nthat I would work the will of your people
\nfully, or fighting fall in death,
\nin fiend\u2019s gripe fast. I am firm to do
\nan earl\u2019s brave deed, or end the days
\nof this life of mine in the mead-hall here.\u201d
\nWell these words to the woman seemed,
\nBeowulf\u2019s battle-boast. — Bright with gold
\nthe stately dame by her spouse sat down.
\nAgain, as erst, began in hall
\nwarriors\u2019 wassail and words of power,
\nthe proud-band\u2019s revel, till presently
\nthe son of Healfdene hastened to seek
\nrest for the night; he knew there waited
\nfight for the fiend in that festal hall,
\nwhen the sheen of the sun they saw no more,
\nand dusk of night sank darkling nigh,
\nand shadowy shapes came striding on,
\nwan under welkin. The warriors rose.
\nMan to man, he made harangue,
\nHrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,
\nlet him wield the wine hall: a word he added: —
\n\u201cNever to any man erst I trusted,
\nsince I could heave up hand and shield,
\nthis noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.
\nHave now and hold this house unpeered;
\nremember thy glory; thy might declare;
\nwatch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee
\nif thou bidest the battle with bold-won life.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

X<\/p>\n

THEN Hrothgar went with his hero-train,
\ndefence-of-Scyldings, forth from hall;
\nfain would the war-lord Wealhtheow seek,
\ncouch of his queen. The King-of-Glory
\nagainst this Grendel a guard had set,
\nso heroes heard, a hall-defender,
\nwho warded the monarch and watched for the monster.
\nIn truth, the Geats\u2019 prince gladly trusted
\nhis mettle, his might, the mercy of God!
\nCast off then his corselet of iron,
\nhelmet from head; to his henchman gave, —
\nchoicest of weapons, — the well-chased sword,
\nbidding him guard the gear of battle.
\nSpake then his Vaunt the valiant man,
\nBeowulf Geat, ere the bed be sought: —
\n\u201cOf force in fight no feebler I count me,
\nin grim war-deeds, than Grendel deems him.
\nNot with the sword, then, to sleep of death
\nhis life will I give, though it lie in my power.
\nNo skill is his to strike against me,
\nmy shield to hew though he hardy be,
\nbold in battle; we both, this night,
\nshall spurn the sword, if he seek me here,
\nunweaponed, for war. Let wisest God,
\nsacred Lord, on which side soever
\ndoom decree as he deemeth right.\u201d
\nReclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows held
\nthe head of the earl, while all about him
\nseamen hardy on hall-beds sank.
\nNone of them thought that thence their steps
\nto the folk and fastness that fostered them,
\nto the land they loved, would lead them back!
\nFull well they wist that on warriors many
\nbattle-death seized, in the banquet-hall,
\nof Danish clan. But comfort and help,
\nwar-weal weaving, to Weder folk
\nthe Master gave, that, by might of one,
\nover their enemy all prevailed,
\nby single strength. In sooth \u2019tis told
\nthat highest God o\u2019er human kind
\nhath wielded ever! — Thro\u2019 wan night striding,
\ncame the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept
\nwhose hest was to guard the gabled hall, —
\nall save one. \u2019Twas widely known
\nthat against God\u2019s will the ghostly ravager
\nhim[13]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0could not hurl to haunts of darkness;
\nwakeful, ready, with warrior\u2019s wrath,
\nbold he bided the battle\u2019s issue.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t

Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Public domain content<\/div>